OPINION
Newcastle United midfielder Ki sung-Yueng was looking like one of the club’s signings of the season after he came on and inspired the first victory against Watford late last year.
Jonjo Shelvey came off injured, which meant that the South Korean international was tasked with taking his place – and from then on in, he was a regular on the teamsheet for Rafa Benitez, something which he started to demonstrate on weekly basis.
The 30-year-old is undoubtedly a brilliantly talented midfielder, but the chances of his name cropping up on the Magpies teamsheet are looking increasingly bleak as each match week passes.
That is because Benitez has opted to perservere with the midfield duo of Isaac Hayden and Sean Longstaff, the latter who has been doing a stellar job recently.
Back when Ki was enjoying a decent run of form, Longstaff would have been nowhere near the first team, but things are now very different after he showed his pedigree due to a number of absences – and it does not look like they are going to be dropped any time soon.
The 6ft 1in [Transfermarkt] star now looks like he has been left out in the cold, with his inclusion in the Asian Cup and his recent injury damaging his hopes of a place in the starting XI.
However, you cannot lay the blame on the manager for wanting to stick to a formula that has been proven a number of times this season, as it is arguable that Newcastle have been playing a lot better with the likes of Longstaff in the middle of the park.
The issue for Ki is that his midfield teammates compliment each other incredibly well, and as long as they are doing that, he will remain on the sidelines as cover.
It is a shame to see Ki not playing much of part in Newcastle’s season at the moment, but when others are playing out of their skin, it is not a surprise to see him thrown at in the cold after being given the shoulder by Benitez and he faces a fierce battle to force his way back in from exile.
